NHL Best Bets
Last might have been my best NHL best bet night of the entire season. We went a perfect 4-0 and didn’t have to sweat out any of the plays.
I’m looking to carry that momentum into tonight, which should have a ton of jam with the Bruins/Panthers series heading to Boston and the Edmonton Oilers looking for a bounce back in Vancouver.
I think I’m going to stick with the props.
Let’s get into it.
Florida at Boston (+105, 5.5)
The Florida Panthers absolutely smacked the Boston Bruins in Game Two, evening this series at 1-1 as it heads back to Boston.
Jeremy Swayman allowed four goals against on just 23 shots and was replaced by Linus Ullmark in the third period, but I think it’s fair to say that most of the goals weren’t his fault. Despite the scores being lopsided in both games, the first periods have been low-scoring as only one goal was scored combined.
Swayman and Sergei Bobrovsky can steal their team a game, and while Boston may be debating on what their starting goaltender should be for Game Three, I do not doubt that it will be Swayman.
The Bruins have played nine games postseason and only allowed two goals in the first periods. Florida have played seven games and given up five goals in the opening frame.
Swayman has been the Bruins’ best player in these playoffs, skating to a .942 save percentage and a 1.81 goals-against average. Bobrovsky’s numbers haven’t been as strong as Swayman’s, but he has been as impactful and important for his team thus far.
The Bruins have been the best defensive team in the playoffs and should be able to recover from a weak game 2 performance. This will be a big game from Swayman.
NHL Best Bet(s): Under 1.5 in the first period -125 (play to -135) | Jeremy Swayman’s save prop hasn’t been posted yet, but take the over on saves
Edmonton at Vancouver (+110, 6)
The Edmonton Oilers had a total collapse in Game One of this series. After taking a commanding 4-1 lead, the Oilers were only able to generate eight shots on goal in the second and third period combined, which allowed the Vancouver Canucks to erase a three-goal deficit and win the game by the score of 5-4.
Connor McDavid was held to zero shots on goal by the Canucks, so you’d have to think he will come out guns blazing tonight. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are currently leading the playoffs in scoring. McDavid has 13 points in six games, and Draisaitl has 12 in six games. Tonight, these two will have to step up even more.
Draisaitl had two assists in Game One and generated three shots on goal, but he is a pure goal-scorer and will be extra hungry to find the back of the net tonight. The Oilers have been generating the second-most high-danger chances in the postseason (13.09), with McDavid and Draisaitl at the center of that.
I don’t want to take away any credit from Vancouver because they have been excellent at limiting their opponents’ scoring chances and shots on goal in the postseason, but the Oilers are a different kind of animal as opposed to the Nashville Predators.
I’m relying on McDavid and Draisaitl to throw pucks on net all night.
NHL Best Bet(s): Connor McDavid over 3.5 shots on goal +124 (play to +105) | Leon Draisaitl over 2.5 shots on goal -166 (play to -175)
May Record: 16-6 (+9.85 units)
2023-24 record: 169–156 (-16.85 units)
